Despite high cattle prices, there are few signs that producers are preparing to increase the size of their herds
Glacier FarmMedia – High calf prices have been a good news story for cow-calf producers, but they’ve done little to help Canada recover its diminished beef herd. “According to Statistics Canada, we’ve seen a decrease in total cattle inventories in Alberta from 5.225 million on July 1, 2023 to 5.145 million on the same date […] Read moreTag Archives Grant McLellan
Producers want more notice of beef check-off increases
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — When and how provincial beef checkoffs are increased continues to concern Saskatchewan producers. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association administers the checkoff and recently applied for a 75-cent increase on the provincial portion. If approved, the increase would take effect in August 2025. However, the application comes after a motion passed at the […] Read more
Name change for cattle group meets resistance
Members attending Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association meeting say talk of changing group’s name is a distraction
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — The idea of changing the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association name did not sit well with producers attending their fall district meeting here late last month. They overwhelmingly spoke in favour of maintaining the name as is and passed a resolution saying so. Chief executive officer Grant McLellan said the organization isn’t contemplating […] Read more
Cattle shortage squeezes auctions
Two Sask. livestock auctions closed in August as facilities struggle to bring in cattle from a smaller herd
REGINA — Two Saskatchewan livestock auctions have closed this summer, and more could follow as a result of the declining cow herd. The Livestock Marketers Association of Canada (LMAC) said the major decrease in cow numbers, exacerbated by drought, has changed market conditions considerably. Fewer cattle to sell at live auction plus a lack of […] Read more
Sask. cattle group reduces requested check-off increase
Delegates approved a $1.50 increase in January, but organization is now asking provincial government for a 75 cent hike
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board has decided to limit the increase to the provincial cattle checkoff that was passed at the annual general meeting earlier this year. The board has asked the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council to approve a 75-cent increase rather than $1.50, starting in April 2025. It also asked for […] Read more
Hope remains for national livestock insurance
Sask. ag minister optimistic the Livestock Price Insurance program will eventually go national as more provinces join
UPDATED – March 20, 2024 – 1530 CST – new Livestock Price Insurance graphic added. Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit has said he remains hopeful that the Livestock Price Insurance program will someday be truly national. LPI is currently available in the prairie provinces and British Columbia. In the LPI program, a producer pays a […] Read more
Beef checkoff set to increase in Sask. next year
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association says it must prepare for lower revenues once sales fall off following a red hot run
REGINA — The Saskatchewan beef checkoff is set to rise 75 percent in 2025 from $2 to $3.50 per head. Producers attending the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association annual general meeting voted in favour of the hike as of April 1, 2025, although some worried more producers would request refunds because of all the escalating costs they […] Read more
Producers urged to send carbon tax message
Campaign looks for natural gas and propane receipts so that they can be used to pressure Ottawa to approve exemption
CALGARY — Producers are being urged to join a Canada-wide campaign to send federal politicians the message that carbon taxes on natural gas and propane must be lifted off the necks of farmers and ranchers. The #ShowYourReceipts initiative is encouraging producers to share their natural gas and propane expenses with the Agriculture Carbon Alliance, said […] Read more
Targeted feed assistance under fire in Sask.
Livestock producers question targeting AgriRecovery to certain areas, saying it should have been offered to everyone
HERBERT, Sask. — Applications for the latest livestock program assistance program are open in Saskatchewan but some cattle producers are less than enthused about this version of AgriRecovery. They’d prefer something like the 2021 drought recovery program that paid $200 per head to all producers. The 2023 program is targeted to certain areas and pays […] Read more
